Rhythms of Life Disc Skills Curriculum Grades 3-7 - USA Ultimate

Cut Drill (4th-7th grade)This is similar to Dog, except players, rather than the coach or teacher, make the throws. This drillcan accommodate up to about 20 players.• Players form two lines, facing each other and some 10-20 yards apart.• Discs are distributed so that each of the first several people in both lines have one, with theexception of the first person in one of the lines who will begin the drill by making a cut.• This first person makes a cut by running straight towards the person facing them on the otherline and then cutting at a 45 degree angle. The first person in the other line passes a disc tothem, which they catch and then continue to the end of the line where they hand the disc to thenext person in line without a disc.• After throwing the disc, it’s the thrower’s turn to make a cut. They run straight ahead and thenat an angle to receive the pass, then they move to the end of the other line.• The drill progresses as players constantly throw, cut, then move to the end of the other line.• Depending on which side the cutter cuts, the thrower will either throw a backhand or forehand.Circle Catch (3rd-7th grade)• Students are arranged into a large circle of 8 to 10 people and spaced so that each person hasenough room to throw a backhand.• One student starts with a Frisbee and passes it to someone else in the circle.• Passes may not be made to the person right next to you.• Variation: Introduce another Frisbee to the game.Circle Catch with Defense (5th-7th grade)• Students are arranged into large circles of 8 to 10 people, spaced so that each has enough roomto throw a backhand.• Three students form a triangle in the center. These three are the defense. The goal of the defenseis to prevent passes from being completed by knocking down or catching the Frisbee.• The students on the circle try to complete passes to other players on the circle.• To be effective, the players on the circle are advised to make "fakes." By stepping and makinga throwing motion without releasing the disc, they can entice the defenders to move one wayand create a gap through which they can complete a pass.• Passes may not be made to the person standing right next to you.• Defenders must stand at least five feet from the person with the disc.• Defenders are most effective if they try to keep their triangle formation as they run aroundwithin the circle. This minimizes the passing lanes.• Extra Challenging Variation: The two players on either side of the one holding the Frisbee arepart of the defense and can knock down any throw that is within their reach. This is known asthe "Betty Rule".Dog with Defense (5th-7th grade)Dog is the basic cutting exercise (described on page 4) in which the coach has a cache of discs attheir feet and makes passes to players who line up one at a time to make a cut. This is a variation ofthat drill in which another player tries to defend the pass.• In this drill, the receivers should vary their cuts so that the defenders won't be able to anticipatethe pass routes.• Other cutting options include: straight out and then diagonally in the other direction; straightout and then back towards the thrower; shorter cuts that immediately go at a diagonal.23